Process for preparing cotton for dyeing and bleaching.



human srnrns Parana or tion.

ALBERT J. DRONSFIELID, 0P PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR 0F FORTY-NINE ONE-HUNDREDTHS 'IO EDWARD L. MARTIN, OF PROVIDENCE. RHODE ISLAND.

PROCESS FOR PREPARING COTTON FOR DYEING AND BLEACI-IING.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. DRONS- FIELD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State of Rhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processes for Preparing Cotton for Dyeing and Bleaching, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the preparation of baled cotton for the dyeing or bleaching operations.

Heretofore, it has been customary to take the cotton directly from the bale and introduce it into a dye or bleaching keir. In this case the dyeing or bleaching has been irregular; that is, the dye or bleach has not permeated all the parts to an equal degree. This was due to the irregularity of degree of compression of the fibers that always exists in a bale of cotton. By the described method a great percentage of waste was entailed, because of the quantities of dyeing or bleaching material absorbed by the dirt and foreign matter present in cotton in the bale.

The object of my invention is primarily to overcome the above enumerated disadvantages; and to attain these ends in a simple and comparatively inexpensive manner.

My invention consists in such of the various steps and manipulations of the cotton as fall within the scope of the appended claims.

In carrying out the invention, the operator removes the cotton from the bale and beats it up, thereby removing the particles of dust and dirt and loosening the fibers uniformly throughout. The next step is to form this loose cotton into a lap comprising the fibers that are loose, of uniform density and non-parallel in relation to each other, and irregular in position. The next step is to superimpose one or more of these laps, similar to the lap just described, one

7 upon the other with a non-adhesive moisture such as water intermediate the surfaces of each of them, and compress these laps into a compound lap which will be, there- Speification of Letters Patent.

Application filed February 12, 1912. Serial No. 677,149.

fore, of uniform density throughout, and the fibers of which will be still non-parallel and irregular. Sections of this compound strip may now be torn off and be packed in flat or roll form in the heir, where the liquors in the heir will penetrate the com pound lap thoroughly and uniformly, reaching every fiber, since the condition of the cotton will permit uniform accessibility to every fiber throughout the mass. The moisture is such as not to interfere with the diffusion of the dye or bleach throughout the mass. 7

It will be observed among other things concerning this process that in preparing the cotton, there is no drawing operation, whereby the fibers would be straightened. A reason why such a step is avoided is that should the fibers lie parallel with each other in the mass, they would become matted together by the irregular pressure involved in manually packing the cotton in the heir. In introducing moisture between the surfaces of the laps in this process, it is found advantageous to introduce the same in the form of a spray; and the introduction of this moisture is found to assist in condensing the several laps into a compound lap. The spray, furthermore, facilitates a uniformity of condensation due to the resultant uniform distribution of moisture contemporaneously over an extended area.

What I claim is,

1. A process of dyeing or bleaching cotton, consisting in beating up cotton from the bale, forming the loose cotton into a lap of uniform density, superimposing a plurality of these laps one upon the other with a nonadhesive moisture intermediate the contacting surfaces of the laps, whereby the moisture will not interfere with the diffusion of the dye throughout the mass, and compressing-the laps into a compound lap, and then dyeing or bleaching.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

2. A process of dyeing or bleachin cotton, 7

other, superimposing a plurality of these In testimony whereof I have affixed my laps one upon another after having applied signature in presence of two Witnesses.

a non-adhesive spray to the contactin surfaces of the laps, whereby the moisture Will ALBERT DRONSFIELD' Witnesses:

5 not interfere With the diffusion of the dye throughout the mass, and compressin the CLIFFORD S. TOWER, compound lap and then dyelng or bleac hing. HoRATIo E. BELLOWS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

